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Dive Brief:

CivicSolar will offer SimpliPhi’s AccESS storage system available as a built-in option on its solar installations.

The partnership is designed to take advantage of the re-opening of California’s Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) this April, which provides incentives for residential energy storage projects of 10kW or less.

Dive Insight:

California’ SGIP program has been one of the key drivers of energy storage installations in California. But controversy prompted a revamping of the program. Bidding procedures sparked a feud between energy storage and fuel cell proponents, leading regulators to revise the program's rules.

With the re-introduction of the SGIP program, storage installations, including behind-the-meter installations are likely to pick up. But another recently passed bill could add unwanted competition for private sector storage developers.

AB 2868 allows utilities to also participate in the behind-the-meter storage market, as long as they "do not unreasonably limit or impair the ability of non-utility enterprises to market and deploy energy storage systems." SimpliPhi and CivicSolar are looking to do well in that market based on what they claim is their safe and non-toxic lithium-ferrous-phosphate chemistry and proprietary battery architecture and management system.

"Our knowledgeable team are expert at the solar-plus-storage landscape and aim to simplify everything from design and procurement to financing and applying for incentives for these systems," Owen Fox, CivicSolar's product manager, said in a statement.

A previous version of this post misidentified CivicSolar as a solar manufacturer. They are a solar equipment distributor.